Christmas in Ice

The town of North Pole is crazy about Christmas. They celebrate all year long. One of our favorite events is Christmas in Ice. We love all the ice sculptures, mazes, and most of all the slides!!!

Lance's school

I really thought this school year would be a little tough on all of us. I am very happy to say "I was completely wrong!"

Lance loves his school and is doing amazing! 

First, I want to just talk about his school. His school is amazing. Just the other day I received this email from his teacher

"Dear Families,

In early our School was recognized as one of 41 High Progress Reward Schools in Category 2, Closing the Achievement Gap between Student Groups, by the State of Alaska.  In light of this achievement we were invited by the state to apply for the Title I Distinguished Schools Recognition Program.  After a rigorous, team application and interview process we were notified this afternoon that we were selected as the Title I Distinguished School for Alaska for 2014-2015 in Category 2! Our Elementary School will be recognized nationally at the National Title I Conference in Salt Lake City in February.  This is an amazing honor and demonstration of the dedication to children and learning that our staff, parents, and community share.   Thank you for your commitment to our children."

This is the first of Many awards that his school has earned. 

I love the small class sizes and the extra fun stuff they get to do. Lance has an awesome teacher too. 

This school year Lexie and I have gotten to visit his classroom quite often to help with different projects. Lexie loves how she gets to take a seat and jump right in as part of the class. Lance not so much! He thinks that because he is 5 and lexie isn't then school is his thing! So we have to be careful not to steal his thunder. 

Yesterday, Lexie and I were able To get a library card to use at his school. Their school has a very nice library and now it is open to the community. 

Lance's class also has first graders in it. Well, Lance loves to listen to what they are learning. You would not believe this kids math skills!! Seriously, I am so impressed! 

2nd quarter has come to an end. Lance brought home his report card the other day. I laughed when I read this note from his teacher "Lance did great this quarter!.............for this quarter, I would like for him to work on his listening skills. I've noticed a few times when I try to get his attention that it takes me a few tries before he looks in my direction. Overall, Lance is a great student and I enjoy having him in my class!" She wasn't telling me anything That I didn't already know. When Lance is really into something it is very hard to get his attention. 

This quarter Lance's school is starting ski club! Lance is super excited to learn how to ski. I think this is going to be a blast!! Lexie and I will be participating too.

Since there is a possibility of having some pretty extreme weather Lance's school has a rule that is the temps reach below -20, then the kids won't go out for recess. We have only had two days this school year where Lance wasn't able to go outside and play. Recess time is spent sledding and playing in the snow. Some of the kids have even built an igloo.

Another thing that has started this quarter is swim lessons! His school does so much for the families and providing free swim lessons (compliments of the PTA) is part of that. Lance's class had their first lesson on Friday. Lance loves it! As much as I want to be there and watch Lance doesn't want me and Lexie to go. So for now, I'll give him his space.

Lance is really picking up on reading. He has learned so many site words and can sound out most small words. Every night we read a few books before bed. It's so much fun now that Lance can help Me read. It's takes a little bit longer, but I love seeing him grow and learn. 

Another Goodbye

My Uncle Bob has been sick for years with a very rare disease called Hermansky Pudlak Syndrome. This disease only affects people with albinism. For years he would get real sick and then make a miraculous recovery and have a few good years. I know it was God giving him extra time (the life expectancy of someone with this disease is 40 years old. Bob lived to 53) Bob was a wonderful Christian man. New Years Day I got the text that he had went to be with the Lord. I am so sad that he is no longer with us, but I know he is with our Heavenly Father and will no longer suffer. 

My aunt Betty is a very strong woman and has been preparing for this for years. Bob leaves behind 4 children; 2 in their twenties and 2 teenagers. They need lots of prayers right now and the future months ahead. 

Welcome Baby Owen

My niece Oaklie went into labor 3 weeks early and gave birth to a healthy Baby boy on Christmas Eve

Owen Daniel James 

Weighing in at 5 pounds 5 ounces 

Mom and baby are doing great!

Hawaii day 5

We woke up Wednesday morning refreshed and ready to go. We had went to bed by 8 pm. The kids wanted to go for a swim so we have in and took the to the hotel pool. It had rained the night before so the pool was freezing. It didn't take the kids long to decide they couldn't handle it. The pool has some coconut trees around it so we picked a coconut and Andrew bashed it against the corner of the concrete and was able to bust it open.

It wasn't completely ripe enough to eat but the water inside was pretty good. 

After getting dressed and checking out of our hotel we went to the Hilo Farmer's Market. 

The Farmer's market was so much fun and to my surprise actually cheap. There was tons of cool looking fruit and lots of home made food. The whole week Andrew had been talking about a food called musubi that he had as a kid. He was so excited to find it at the farmer's market.

Musubi is spam wrapped in a sticky white rice and seaweed. We bought lots of other goodies including a pineapple. Have I mentioned how much I love all the fresh fruit??!!! 

After Farmer's market we drove down to Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park.

One of the volcanoes is currently going off so allot of the park is closed. We were able to see Kilauea Crater from the overlook. It is still steaming. 

All through the park there are steam vents. I expected to see water in the holes but it was just the moisture steaming off. 

Our next stop was Pana'ewa Rainforest zoo and gardens. This place was perfect for our small kids. There are tons of lush plants with  beautiful flowers everywhere. They mainly have birds at this zoo.

Lexie was so impressed when a parrot told her "hello, my name is Max" she acted if it was a magic bird that only talked to her. On the way out we had to go back by him for Lexie to tell Max "goodbye, I love you" to witch Max replied "goodbye, my name is max". 

The zoo's path ended at an awesome little playground. Andrew and I were able to sit and relax while the kids birds of some energy. We all loved the zoo. I loved that is was FREE!

We stayed the night in Hilo but this time at a different hotel because the Hilo Hawaiian was booked that night. That night we stayed at the Hilo Seaside hotel. It was nice but not as nice as the others. Some thing were a little outdated but they had renovations going on so that will help. It did offer a free hot breakfast and free wifi which is a rarity on the island.

We were all pretty tired so we ordered our dinner to go and ate at the hotel. Lance & Lexie enjoyed a nice dinner on the balcony. They were pretty cute acting like they were on a date. 

Aloha Hawaii

Friday was our last day in Hawaii and we made sure to make it extra special. 

We spent the morning relaxing then walked down The road to the port for our submarine tour.

we checked in early for our tour then visited Scandinavian shaved ice. O My Goodness!!! This place was amazing!! Andrew got a shaved ice that was to die for. It was mango, orange and passion fruit flavored. My ice cream cone was the best I ever had. It was a waffle cone that was so fresh it was still warm. My ice cream was a piña colada and strawberry mix. Best cone ever!!! Lexie isn't too adventurous when it comes to trying new things. She just wanted chocolate. Lance got a volcano ice cream which was Oreos, banana and strawberry. 

Our submarine tour was done through Atlantis submarine tours of Kona. It was perfect for our kids. The sub seats 48 people but it was just us and one other couple. The kids had plenty of room to look out the windows. We dove down to 112 feet at the deepest. Most of the time we stayed in between 60 & 70 feet exploring the coral reefs and fish that live there. The kids loved seeing the big eels. My favorite was the two ship wrecks. 

Once done with the submarine tour we went back to the hotel room to get ready for our grand finale, a Luau. 

The luau started at 5:30 with some Hawaiian men blowing the conch shells then two Hawaiian men unburied the pig (kalua pig) out of the huge fire pit. 

We watched several dances then it was time to eat. I can't say enough about all the amazing food we had; kalua pig, lomi salmon, poi (not so good), rolls, coconut cake, pineapple upside down cake, tons of fruit and so much more! 

Lexie loved watching the hula girls. She was too cute as she would try to dance too. Lance loves the Hawaiian men who twirled fire. For me, the best part was just watching the kids. I think Andrew would say the same thing. 

We ended the night at the hotel pool to ware the kids out before bed and help them sleep on the flight home on Saturday. 

Our vacation in Hawaii was absolutely amazing! We made so many memories. The kids were the perfect age for their first trip. We spent each day swimming at a new beach (8 different beaches) and exploring the beautiful island. 

One thing that I absolutely loved was listening to Andrew talk about when they lived in Hawaii. He never talks about anything from when he was a kids, but being in Hawaii brought back lots of happy memories for him. 

Hawaii had allot of surprises for me. I couldn't believe how different all the beaches were. Each one was beautiful in its own way. I loved seeing all the different plants and trees.

Hawaii sure had a wide variety depending on where you were on the island. 

I couldn't believe all the animals on the island. There were wild donkeys, cats, mongooses (we seen tons), goats, turkeys, pigs, chickens, horses and tons others that we didn't see. All the animals had been brought there for a purpose at one time. The donkeys were used to work in the sugar can fields, the mongooses were brought there in case there was ever an infestation of snakes. Most animals were brought for food like the chickens, pigs and turkeys.  

We are definitely going to miss all the fresh fruit and a drink we all became addicted to and drank tons of while on the Big Island; Aloha Maid Natural guava drinks!

We were up bright and early Saturday morning for a 5 hour flight to Anchorage, a quick 1 hour layover then a short 40 minute flight to Fairbanks. It felt so good to be home. 

God has blessed our family with so much and a chance to see some more of His awesome creation!!!

Good bye

Wednesday my grandpa went to be with the Lord. I know he is loving seeing my grandma again.